Lifter for utensils and the like



June 9, 1953 2,641,497

LIFTER FOR UTENSILS AND THE LIKE Filed Aug. 26, 1950 INVENTOR.

Mam

A7TOENEY5 Patented June 9, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in lifters for lifting hot pans, bowls, dishes and the like.

A principal object of the invention is to provide as a kitchen utensil a device of the class described so constructed that it can be utilized to pick up and carry hot articles with safety. Another object is to provide such a utensil capable of applying a strong grip, which is convenient to use, made from a minimum number of parts, and economical to manufacture. Another object is to provide a device so constructed that equal torque can be applied to each of the arms forming the gripping jaws. Still another object is to provide a device having rubber covered gripping jaws in order to firmly grip containers having smooth walls, such as glass jars and the like.

The lifter of the present invention comprises a main handle to which is fixedly secured both ends of a U-shaped steel rod, steel strap or other metal bar or strap which forms one jaw. A second jaw is formed by a similar U-shaped rod or strap welded to a longitudinal rod which extends parallel to the handle and which is rotatably mounted in eye bolts adjacent the rear of the handle and in eyes in the rod which forms the first jaw. The rod extending parallel to the main handle is provided with a reverse bend to form an auxiliary handle or grip part offset from the main handle. Movement of the jaws toward and away from each other is effected by rotating I the auxiliary handle about the main handle. Movement of the auxiliary handle through an arc of about 90 swings the jaws from fully open to fully closed positions, and vice versa.

The present invention is designed not only for the usual purpose of picking up hot, shallow objects such as lids and plates, but also to pick up deep containers such as fruit jars and the like, and for this purpose the arms of the jaws are arcuately shaped so that a firm grip can be applied by each arm of the jaws to deep containers. Moreover, such construction will rip containers without a flange on the upper edge, by reason of the fact that the arcuately shaped arms extend over the upper edge of such containers and grip the wall of the container at a point Well below the rim. Equal gripping pressure can be applied to opposite sides of the container being lifted, by reason of the fact that one of the jaws is secured to and actuated by the rotating rod, while the other jaw is fixedly secured to the main handle and thereby opposes the force applied to the rotating rod with an equal reaction force.

The invention will be better understood and additional objects and advantages will become apparent from the following description in connection with the accompanying drawings illustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention. It is to be understood, however, that the invention may take other forms, and all such modifications as will be obvious to persons skilled in the art are included in the invention.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the lifter showing the jaws open and gripping a smooth-walled container;

Figure 2 is an end View of the lifter shown in Figure 1 showing the jaws applied to a point adjacent the bottom of the container;

Figure 3 is a side view of the lifter in vertical position and applied to a fruit jar;

Figure 4 shows a modified form of attaching one of the jaws to the longitudinal rod operated by the auxiliary handle;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary view showing one of the jaws covered with rubber; and

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of Figure 5.

The lifter may be made entirely from metal, or it may be made partly of metal and partly of wood, a preferred construction being to construct the main handle from a piece of hardwood and to construct the jaws and rotating handle from metal rod or strap. Such construction provides a lightweight yet sturdy device which will firmly grip pans, bowls or other containers, and will pick up containers of considerable weight.

The lifter is best seen in Figure 1 and is shown gripping the walls of a container A shown in broken lines. The lifter essentially comprises an elongated main handle Ill, a pair of 'U-shaped jaws l l and I2, and an elongated rod 53, substantially coextensive with handle 10 and rotatably mounted in association therewith. The rod 13 has an auxiliary handle portion 13a in the form of a crank at the rearend thereof.

The jaw H is formed from a piece of metal rod or strap, or the like, and comprises arms I la and 1 lb and an arcuate cross bar or gripping portion I I0 intermediate the arms and at the base of the U. The free ends of the arms Ha and Nb are looped to form eyes I Id and I la adjacent the ends, and then terminate in bores in the handle 10, as seen in dotted lines in Figure l. The free ends of the arms are fixedly secured in the handle 10 as by flattening the tips in the form of a rivet, or in any other satisfactory manner. It is essential that these ends be securely attached so that the jaw 11 Will function as an integral part of the handle, because a firm grip is necessary to 3 pick up heavy containers, and especially a container such as exemplified by container A shown in Figure 1 which does not have a flange around the upper edge.

The jaw 12, similar to jaw I I, has arms Hat and l2b and an arcuate, intermediate gripping portion I20. The free ends of the jaw [2 are welded to the elongated rod [3 which is rotatively mounted in the eyes lid and He and also in eye bolts [1 and [8 at the rear of the handle. The jaw 12 thus rotates with the rod [3 and auxiliary handle [3a in opposition to jaw l l to grip a pan or the like therebetween. It is an important fea= ture of this invention that each-of=the-arms I la and l lb and the arms IM and 12b are fixedly secured to the main handle l and rod' l'lh re spectively. Because of this arrangement,.,these arms each will apply an equal amount of force to the container being gripped. It willtbe seen that by means of this construction the gripping force is positively applied to -both jaws byathe use of the two longitudinal members which carry and support the; jaws. Equalized pressurepermits'containers to be handled with safety, 1 Q The modification in Figure 4 shows an alternative method, in; lieu of Welding, of i attaching jaw l2 to rod [3. To accomplish this the rod [3 has a flattened portion I 322.. r The .endsof arms l2a:and-pl2b are v formed inflat loops which engage the flattened portion l3b with arigid; drivin connection. Equalized pressure by .botharms is provided =on..a container being gripped-,1 as explained .herein in connection with ,the embodiment of Figures lhand2. r g The auxiliary.handle,.l3zt is.offset from the main handle vI1] by substantially -.right-angle bends in rod 13 betweenthe eyebolts Hand-A8, and the jaw I2 is rotated by gripping the handle [3a and rotating it relative. .tothe main...handle ill. The handle portion 1311 has a sleevev.l.9.loose- 1y mounted thereon for. the comfort of the user when the handle is.being. rotated and,gripped. In gripping the device with the right .hand,. the main handle rests inthe palm..of the hand, and the sleeve l9 rests in the fingers, thus insuring a strong grips Articles tobe gripped arev usually tapered similarly. to the container.A. of Figures 1 and 2. and often are not gripped with..a rimlor flange. It will be seen that a substantially, firm grip wouldv be required, to .lift .,the container. ;h becausethe jawsdo not engage a flange around the container, and such agrip is possible with the constructionof this .device,,.- The lifter will grasp and lift most ,types of kitchen utensilssafe ly and conveniently... 7; 1' The arms of the jaws areqcurved arcuately, as best seenin Figure 2. This -.construction pro,- vides maximum spread of "the jawshigh-111p on'the arms and thereby facilitates-gripping a container sufficiently beneath the top-edge-so that there is no danger of'the ja'wsslipping on the top edgeof' the container. W

* Figure 3 shows the device applied in a's'ome' what different manner infthat the main handle is in a vertical position, and the arcuate shap'pf the arms s utiliie'd' to "grip'the "jar s, with t u e m d. 'Z risa 'in jl 'fise 1 9 h er: 1' ,f ,.i .j

ar a r inen -twi sil ens? -39 ma advantageously be made of, atltenedcro ss-section, .as illustrated Figures 1,, ,,2, and Then,

' when li ti shall w d a ierss ch s lates. .lids, or the like, the flatportion's He and lzcpf thejaws are slipped .edgewise ,under the bottom coverin of resilient frictijon. material;

of the container and the container then veniently picked up.

Figures 5 and 6 show a modification of the invention. To insure a safe grip on a container and also to prevent damage to containers and the like, a friction material 2|, such as rubber or an asbestos filled material, is loosely mounted on the arcuate, cross-bar portions of the jaws corresponding to Ho and I20: in Figure 1. In this modification the cross-bar portion is circular in cross section as shown at23in -Figure 6. The friction resistant material surrounding the gripping portion of the jaw is preferably formed of. triangularcross section 24 having flat sides, as illustrated, and, when pressed against the wall-on a container to be lifted, rotates about the cross bar to present a flat surface in frictional engagement with said wall. With such a material. surrounding the gripping portions of the jaws, a container having vertical walls can conveniently behandled..

summary, it will. be seen that I. have provided the maximum advantages and efficiency-for a.lifter .of the class described, using a minimum number of parts; .The liftercomprises essentially thetwo longitudinal members. I0 and. 13. which providethehandla'.support for the jaws, hand grip, .,and.r,otativ.e. levers. ,-for actuating the jaws": The jawsare forcibly drivendnto and out of engagement. with each other by,,.operation .of the handles, ,and ,grip. Torque force is -,applied" to botharms of.,both ,jaws, thereby providing an equalized gripping pressure .onthe walls of the container. The arms of the jaws are arcua'te to..provide the greatestlifting ,eificiency". The gripping portionsmay, be flattened for efiiciency in engaging flat bottomed articles. Alternative ly, 'the grippingportions may be provided with a Oneof the jaws provides bearing. support for one of the. lon itu i al m e I 7 It' ill be appreciated that theplongitudinal men}; rs may take various. forms in relative associationto each other. Ingeneral, the'fhandle I ll, which I havereferred to herein. as the'main handle, ,may be regarded asstationary; andithe rod lywith its handleportion l3a may :be' e gardedas the rotary member.- However, relationship is purely relative; inasmuch as ham dle, I0 mayactually ;be rotated in the 'grip" and held stationary. Therhandle portion 13a I i y talge, diiferent forms. A rear-portion" of handle lt might "be offset;-especially weredt to be-made of metal; F.0d I3 might be disposed centrally; of a-hollow metal handle with suitable notche d openings being provided for'the radially e t ending rotating members. The above and the various other modifications described herein are illustrative j of the modifications" which .may be made within the spirit of the inventionf Hav'ing now Ldesc'ribed myrmvenu'on" and what manner .th'e's'ame may be used, what f'clalni asnew .and desire to protectbylett rs Patent is: a ll. A lifter for utensils and the "like con'lprisin g han dle, a first 'u-sna'ped jaw having eye s forme d:near the free ends thereof and having its free ends secured in said handle; a rod con stituting anauiciliary handle substantially "e6 extensive with said handle and rotatably mounted inbearings on said handle andin said eyes in said first jaw, said rod having an onset portion parallel with said handle for mani pu ting the same, and a second u -shaped jaw cured on said rod in; poseepes l ion to said 2. The invention as defined in claim 1 in which said rotatable rod has a flattened portion extending substantially the distance between the arms of the jaw secured to said main handle and in which the jaw secured to said rotatable rod is fixedly attached by looping its ends over said flattened portion in close engagement therewith.

3. A lifter for utensils and the like comprising a main handle, a pair of opposing jaws formed of metal rod members in a U-shape, one of said jaws having the free ends of its arms looped to provide an eye near each of said free ends and then having the free ends fixedly secured to said main handle in integral relation, a rod rotatably secured to said main handle and passing through the eyes in said first jaw as a part of its mounting, the other of said jaws having the free ends of its arms fixedly secured to said rod, said rod having an offset portion parallel with the rear of said main handle for gripping by the hand of the operator to efiect relative movement between said jaws.

4. A lifter for utensils and the like comprising a handle, a first U-shaped jaw having eyes formed near the free ends thereof and having its free ends secured in said handle, a rod substantially coextensive with said handle and rotatably mounted in bearings on said handle and in said eyes in said first U-shaped jaw, said rod having an offset portion constituting an auxiliary handle for manipulating the same, and a second U-shaped jaw integrally mounted on said rod in opposed position to said first U-shaped jaw.

5. A lifter for utensils and the like comprising a handle, a first U-shaped jaw having eyes formed near the free ends thereof and having its free ends secured in said handle, a rod substantiallycoextensive with said handle and rotatably mounted in hearings on said handle and in said eyes in said first U-shaped jaw, said rod having an offset portion constituting an auxil iary handle for manipulating the same, a second U-shaped jaw integrally mounted on said rod in opposed position to said first U-shaped jaw, and friction material covering said U-shaped jaws.

JOHN L. THOMAS.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,501,967 Nadeau July 22, 1924 1,607,766 McGarvey Nov. 23, 1926 1,670,732 Montgomery May 22, 1928 2,127,947 Weiss Aug. 23, 1938 2,384,408 Warren Sept. 4, 1945 2,410,655 Henrichon Nov. 5, 1946 

